Social Work

Social Work

College for Women | Henrietta Schmoll School of Health

Do you have a passion for working with people and advancing social justice? Are you interested in preparing for one of the fastest growing careers in the nation? Then the social work major is the program for you! You'll learn to promote social justice and social change while recognizing and honoring differences in our local, national, and global communities.

This program offers three minors: Social Services Management, Chemical Dependency Counseling: Addiction and Recovery, and Social Welfare.

Program Details

Get Hands-On Experience and Teaching Grounded in Social Justice

Our curriculum is grounded in social justice. The framework that guides our program — called Social Work for Social Justice: Ten Principles — has been adopted by numerous programs throughout the U.S.

Field education is where social work theory meets practice in real-world settings. As a junior and senior, you’ll gain hands-on learning opportunities in a variety of settings, including case management, community education and organizing, crisis intervention, policy and planning, group counseling — and more — with children, adults, families, groups, and communities.

Through social work coursework, you will develop knowledge and skills in social welfare policy and advocacy, community outreach, communication and interviewing skills, case management and basic counseling, social work research, group work, strengths-based intervention, and support for individuals, families, and communities.

Careers in Social Work

Social work is a licensed profession. Our Bachelor of Social Work students gain real-world experience during 600 hours of field placement, and graduate prepared to take the licensure exam required to practice social work in Minnesota. We prepare generalist social workers committed to professional ethics and values, service, social justice, and human rights. You will be prepared for careers in:

child, family, and school social work

social work within hospitals and clinics

community organizing and social justice

social action organizations

gerontological social work

hospice and palliative care

justice and corrections

community mental health

social services administration

work with military, veterans, and their families

chemical dependency and substance abuse

crisis intervention

the private sector

Program Accreditation

The joint social work program at St. Catherine University and St. Thomas received its first accreditation in 1974 from the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). Since that time, the St. Kate's–St. Thomas School of Social Work has successfully obtained reaffirmation of accreditation through 2019.

As St. Kate's and St. Thomas build independent social work programs, both universities will pursue accreditation through CSWE. The accrediting body will review our application and ultimately make a decision regarding accreditation by summer 2020.